If you like beer like I like beer, you've often thought about trying to make
your own, but dismissed the thought - "It's too hard and too expensive".
WRONG!

Mr. Beer
-
In
early 2012 I ordered a Mr. Beer
kit,
and it sat for months until I got off my duff to try it. I made my first
batch in July 2012, and sampled it before the end of the month. Pretty good!
And this is with the recipe that came with it, which wass for a West Coast Pale
Ale, which wouldn't be my first pick. Fast forward 3 years, and I've
brewed close to 200 gallons of beer!

How long does it take? Well, to make my first batch it took
about 30 minutes to do everything including cleanup. It then brewed for
two weeks in our pantry closet, and then it was time to bottle (into Mr. Beer'sresealable plastic bottles). That process took another 30 - 45 minutes, so
in total I invested a little over an hour. I brewed my first batch for two
weeks in the keg and two weeks in the bottle. I've since learned to follow
the 3-4 rule. 3 weeks in the keg, 2 weeks in the bottle to carbonate,
and 2 more weeks in the bottle to condition. Then, only put in the fridge
what you want to drink now, letting the rest condition some more.

How much does it cost? When you buy the initial kit, your outlay
is in the $40 - $50 range, because it includes bottles and keg. Refill
kits cost as little as $11.54 on sale, up to $25 or so. When I buy a 12
pack at the store it costs between $9.99 (Killian's) up to $15.00 (Sam Adams
Cherry Wheat) plus tax. That's for 144 ounces (12 bottles). Mr. Beer
refills cost between $6.50 and $14.58 per 12 pack depending on the batch, so you save money,
sometimes a lot! And you get a better beer!

To learn more about Mr. Beer's different refills, visit my
Mr. Beer page.

As you get into making your own beer, you'll learn that adding to Mr. Beer's
recipes will yield a better beer. And you may even decide to go into full
blown homebrew, which takes more equipment and more work. A great
source for ingredients and equipment is Adventures in Homebrewing.